---
name: ux-researcher
description: Expert UX research covering user research methods, usability testing, data synthesis, and research operations.
version: 1.0.0
author: Claude Skills
category: product-design
tags: [research, ux, usability, interviews, surveys, analytics]
---

# UX Researcher

Expert-level user experience research for product decisions.

## Core Competencies

- Qualitative research methods
- Quantitative research methods
- Usability testing
- Survey design
- Data synthesis
- Research operations
- Stakeholder communication
- Research ethics

## Research Methods

### Method Selection Matrix

| Method | Type | Sample | Time | Best For |
|--------|------|--------|------|----------|
| Interviews | Qual | 5-15 | 2-4 weeks | Deep understanding |
| Surveys | Quant | 100+ | 1-2 weeks | Validation at scale |
| Usability Tests | Qual | 5-8 | 1-2 weeks | Design validation |
| Card Sorting | Qual | 15-30 | 1 week | Information arch |
| A/B Testing | Quant | 1000+ | 2-4 weeks | Feature optimization |
| Diary Studies | Qual | 10-20 | 2-4 weeks | Behavior over time |
| Analytics | Quant | All | Ongoing | Behavioral patterns |
| Ethnography | Qual | 5-10 | 4-8 weeks | Contextual understanding |

### When to Use What

```
DISCOVERY PHASE
├── Stakeholder interviews
├── Competitive analysis
├── User interviews
└── Contextual inquiry

DEFINITION PHASE
├── Surveys (quantitative validation)
├── Card sorting
└── Persona development

DEVELOPMENT PHASE
├── Concept testing
├── Usability testing
├── A/B testing
└── Preference testing

LAUNCH PHASE
├── Beta testing
├── Launch surveys
└── Analytics monitoring

POST-LAUNCH
├── Customer feedback
├── NPS surveys
├── Behavioral analytics
└── Support ticket analysis
```

## User Interviews

### Interview Planning

```markdown
# Research Plan: [Study Name]

## Research Questions
1. [What are we trying to learn?]
2. [What are we trying to learn?]

## Hypotheses
- [What we think we'll find]

## Methodology
- 60-minute semi-structured interviews
- Remote via Zoom
- Recording with consent

## Participant Criteria
**Include:**
- [Criterion 1]
- [Criterion 2]

**Exclude:**
- [Criterion 1]

## Sample Size
- 8-12 participants
- Segment distribution: [breakdown]

## Timeline
- Recruiting: [dates]
- Sessions: [dates]
- Analysis: [dates]
- Presentation: [date]

## Team
- Lead researcher: [name]
- Note-taker: [name]
- Observers: [names]
```

### Interview Guide

```markdown
# Interview Guide

## Introduction (5 min)
"Thank you for joining. I'm [name], a researcher at [company].
We're talking to people about [topic]. There are no right or wrong answers.
We'll record this session. Is that okay?"

## Background (5 min)
- Tell me about your role at [company].
- How long have you been doing [activity]?

## Current Behavior (15 min)
- Walk me through how you currently [task].
  - Probe: What tools do you use?
  - Probe: Who else is involved?
- What's the hardest part about [task]?
- Tell me about a recent time when [problem].

## Pain Points (10 min)
- What frustrates you most about [process]?
- If you could change one thing, what would it be?
- What workarounds have you developed?

## Concept Testing (15 min) [if applicable]
- [Show concept] What's your first impression?
- How would you expect this to work?
- What questions do you have?
- Would this solve your problem? Why/why not?

## Wrap-up (5 min)
- Is there anything else you'd like to share?
- Any questions for me?
- May we follow up if we have more questions?

## Post-Interview
- Thank you email
- Compensation processing
- Note consolidation
```

### Note-Taking Template

```markdown
# Interview Notes

Participant: P[#]
Date: [date]
Researcher: [name]
Duration: [time]

## Key Quotes
> "[Quote about pain point]"
> "[Quote about behavior]"

## Observations
- [Body language, hesitations]
- [Emotional reactions]

## Pain Points Identified
1. [Pain point]
2. [Pain point]

## Needs Identified
1. [Need]
2. [Need]

## Surprises
- [Unexpected finding]

## Follow-up Questions
- [Question for next interview]
```

## Usability Testing

### Test Plan

```markdown
# Usability Test Plan

## Objectives
- Measure task completion for [feature]
- Identify usability issues
- Validate design decisions

## Methodology
- Moderated usability testing
- Think-aloud protocol
- 45-minute sessions

## Participants
- 5-8 participants
- [Criteria]

## Tasks

### Task 1: [Task Name]
**Scenario:** "Imagine you need to [context]..."
**Task:** "[Specific action to complete]"
**Success Criteria:**
- [ ] [Criterion 1]
- [ ] [Criterion 2]

### Task 2: [Task Name]
**Scenario:** "[Context]"
**Task:** "[Action]"
**Success Criteria:**
- [ ] [Criterion 1]

## Metrics
- Task completion rate (target: 80%+)
- Time on task (baseline: X seconds)
- Error rate
- SUS score (target: 70+)
- Task-level satisfaction (1-5)

## Materials
- [ ] Prototype link
- [ ] Task script
- [ ] Recording consent
- [ ] Pre-test questionnaire
- [ ] Post-test questionnaire (SUS)
```

### Severity Rating Scale

| Severity | Description | Action |
|----------|-------------|--------|
| 0 | Not a problem | None |
| 1 | Cosmetic | Fix if time |
| 2 | Minor | Low priority fix |
| 3 | Major | High priority fix |
| 4 | Catastrophic | Must fix before launch |

### Findings Template

```markdown
# Finding: [Title]

**Severity:** [0-4]
**Frequency:** [X/N participants]

**Description:**
[What happened during testing]

**Evidence:**
- P1: "[Quote]"
- P3: "[Quote]"

**Screenshot/Video:**
[Link]

**Impact:**
[Effect on user experience]

**Recommendation:**
[Suggested fix]
```

## Survey Design

### Survey Structure

```
1. SCREENER (2-3 questions)
   - Qualification criteria
   - Segment identification

2. CORE QUESTIONS (10-15 questions)
   - Topic 1: [3-4 questions]
   - Topic 2: [3-4 questions]
   - Topic 3: [3-4 questions]

3. DEMOGRAPHICS (3-5 questions)
   - Role/industry
   - Company size
   - Experience level

4. OPEN-ENDED (1-2 questions)
   - "Anything else to share?"
```

### Question Types

**Rating Scales:**
```
Likert (Agreement): Strongly disagree → Strongly agree
Satisfaction: Very dissatisfied → Very satisfied
Frequency: Never → Always
Importance: Not important → Very important
NPS: 0-10 likelihood to recommend
```

**Best Practices:**
- Use consistent scale direction
- Include "Not applicable" option
- Randomize option order where appropriate
- Limit matrix questions
- Test on mobile

### Sample Size Calculator

```
For 95% confidence, 5% margin of error:

Population → Sample Needed
100 → 80
500 → 217
1,000 → 278
5,000 → 357
10,000 → 370
100,000 → 383
1,000,000 → 384
```

## Data Synthesis

### Affinity Mapping

```
STEP 1: Individual notes on sticky notes
STEP 2: Group similar notes together
STEP 3: Name the groups (themes)
STEP 4: Identify patterns across groups
STEP 5: Prioritize by frequency/impact

Theme 1: [Name]        Theme 2: [Name]
├── Finding A          ├── Finding D
├── Finding B          ├── Finding E
└── Finding C          └── Finding F
```

### Insight Development

```
OBSERVATION → INSIGHT → IMPLICATION

Observation: "Users click the help icon frequently on the checkout page"
Insight: "Users are confused about shipping options during checkout"
Implication: "Redesign shipping section with clearer labels and defaults"
```

### Research Report Structure

```markdown
# Research Report: [Study Name]

## Executive Summary
- [Key finding 1]
- [Key finding 2]
- [Key recommendation]

## Background
- Research questions
- Methodology
- Participants

## Key Findings

### Finding 1: [Title]
- Evidence
- Quotes
- Impact

### Finding 2: [Title]
...

## Recommendations
| Finding | Recommendation | Priority | Owner |
|---------|----------------|----------|-------|
| [#1] | [Action] | High | [Team] |

## Appendix
- Participant demographics
- Full task results
- Survey responses
```

## Research Operations

### Research Repository

```
research/
├── 2024/
│   ├── Q1/
│   │   ├── checkout-usability/
│   │   │   ├── plan.md
│   │   │   ├── guide.md
│   │   │   ├── notes/
│   │   │   ├── recordings/
│   │   │   └── report.md
│   │   └── onboarding-interviews/
│   └── Q2/
├── templates/
├── participant-database/
└── insights-library/
```

### Participant Management

```yaml
participant_criteria:
  - active_user: true
  - account_age: ">90 days"
  - not_contacted: "last 90 days"

compensation:
  - 30_min_interview: $50
  - 60_min_interview: $100
  - survey: $10
  - diary_study: $200

scheduling:
  - tool: Calendly
  - buffer: 15 min
  - max_per_day: 4
```

## Reference Materials

- `references/research_methods.md` - Method deep dives
- `references/survey_design.md` - Survey best practices
- `references/synthesis.md` - Analysis techniques
- `references/ethics.md` - Research ethics guide

## Scripts

```bash
# Interview transcript analyzer
python scripts/transcript_analyzer.py --folder transcripts/ --themes themes.yaml

# Survey analyzer
python scripts/survey_analyzer.py --responses responses.csv --output report/

# Usability metrics calculator
python scripts/usability_metrics.py --results test_results.json

# Insight database updater
python scripts/insight_db.py --add finding.md
```